The Future Perfect Tense

The Future Perfect Tense

by Russell Sabo

The future perfect tense, or el futuro perfecto, is used to refer to an action that happened BEFORE another future action (simple future tense, not future perfect). It can also be used to express probability. Very often you will notice the words “cuando” – “when” and “ya” – “already” used with the future perfect tense.

Cuando habrás matado la vaca, la comeremos. – When you will have butchered the cow, we will eat it.

Habr+éis= vosotros/as habréis hablado (you all (informal) will have spoken), vosotros/as habréis comido (you all (informal) will have eaten), vosotros/as habréis vivido (you all (informal) will have lived)

Habr+án=Ustedes habrán hablado (you all (formal) will have spoken), Ustedes habrán comido (you all (formal) will have eaten), Ustedes habrán vivido (you all (formal) will have lived)

Habr+án=ellos habrán hablado (they (males or a mixed group) will have spoken), ellos habrán comido (they (males or a mixed group) will have eaten), ellos habrán vivido (they (males or a mixed group) will have lived)

Other Uses of the Future Perfect Tense

If you’re not quite sure you believe something, or you have reservations about someone else’s view of reality, you can use the future perfect tense to express your opinions.

Juan habrá ganado la carrera pero no aparece en su carro en la revisión. – Juan might have won the race but he doesn’t appear in his car in the review. (Was he REALLY in his car when the race was won?)

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The Future Perfect Tense
by Russell Sabo
The future perfect tense, or el futuro perfecto, is used to refer to an action that happened BEFORE another future action (simple future tense, not future perfect). It can also be used to express probability. Very often you will notice the words "cuando" - "when" and "ya" -